Southwestern Seminary announces new VP and dean of education school

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- The executive committee of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s board of trustees announced the election of two administrative positions, June 10. In a special, called meeting, the executive committee voted to approve Kevin Ensley as the new vice president for business administration and Waylan Owens as the new dean of the School of Educational Ministries, effective August 1, 2009.

Vice President for Business Administration
Ensley has served as chief financial officer and vice president of business at the Criswell College in Dallas since 2005. As CFO, he has overseen the financial affairs of the institution, such as accounting, human resources, accounts payable and accounts receivable. He has led the institution amidst current national economic instability by reorganizing operations and positioning the college to maintain staffing and benefit levels.

As vice president of business at Criswell College, Ensley’s responsibilities have included information technology, facilities and maintenance, food service, risk management, and security. Under his leadership, the college has experienced ongoing technological advancements, including a new Web site, upgraded computers and classroom equipment for student and faculty use, and launching a database management program for improved service to students.

Prior to his service at Criswell College, Ensley was Senior Financial Analyst for Electronic Data Systems, Inc., in Plano, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at Texas A&M University-Commerce in 1992 and a Master of Business Administration at Southern Methodist University in 1996.

Southwestern president Paige Patterson praised Ensley’s track record, saying, “Kevin Ensley has proven himself a valuable and indefatigable servant to the Criswell College for the last four years.

“With great gratitude to God, we welcome him as our newly elected vice president for business administration at Southwestern Seminary. With the invaluable experience he has already had in both the corporate world and Christian higher education, he will be able to move us ahead in these troubled financial times.”
Dean of the School of Educational Ministries
Waylan Owens has served as associate professor of pastoral ministry at Southwestern since 2008. Prior to this, he served in various capacities at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., including vice president for planning and communication (2000-06) and associate professor of pastoral ministry (1998-2006). Owens was special assistant to the president (1998-2000) under Paige Patterson, when Patterson was president of Southeastern Seminary and serving as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Owens served as an adjunct professor at Southeastern Seminary from 2006-07 while also serving as pastor of Good Hope Baptist Church in Wake Forest, N.C. Additionally, he held pastorates at First Baptist Church in Soldotna, Alaska, and Crosby Baptist Church in Crosby, Miss.

Owens earned his Ph.D. (1992) and M.Div. (1987) from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His Ph.D. was in Old Testament and Hebrew, with a minor in education. The supervisor for his minor was Bob Mathis, who now serves as professor of administration and assistant dean for the division of administration in Southwestern’s School of Educational Ministries.

Owens’ experience in the field of education also extends into public school classrooms, where he taught for several years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Math and Science Education from the University of West Florida in 1983.

Southwestern president Paige Patterson expressed confidence in Owens’ new assignment as dean of the School of Educational Ministries.

“Some years ago, I was serving as president of Southeastern Seminary and was simultaneously elected for two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. All of this occurred during the time when we were also beginning our annual accreditation review process. During those extremely busy times, God was gracious enough to me to allow Dr. Owens to leave his pastorate in Alaska and assist us in all of those enterprises.

“Consequently, he comes to his position with a thorough knowledge of accreditation, a full understanding of church life in America today, and a grasp of the new directions that must be taken in the area of Christian education in the days that lie ahead.

“Dr. Owens will love and encourage our excellent faculty in our School of Educational Ministries, and I am grateful for his willingness to take on this important responsibility.”

In an announcement to seminary faculty, staff and students on June 10, Patterson thanked Greg Kingry and Wes Black for their service to the institution. Kingry has served as vice president for business administration at Southwestern since 2004 and has been named president of the The Headrick Companies in Laurel, Miss. Black has served as acting dean of the School of Educational Ministries since the fall 2008 semester and will continue in his role as associate dean for the research doctoral program and professor of student ministry.

“We will be forever indebted to the sacrificial labors of both of these men,” Patterson said.